Cast or splint removing device



D'ec. 9, 1930. a. E. CLARK ETAL 1,784,337

4 CAST OR SPLINT REMOVING DEVICE y Fild Feb. 25, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 l y O zgl INVENTOR ATTORNEY De@ 9, 1930. B. E. CLARKE Erm. v 1,784,337

CAST '0R SPLINT REMOVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z4 Y m claw/ wzzew INVENTOR 30 fers intense and often lasting pains.

. Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT ol-FICE Bauen n CLARKE AND ARTHUR n scHLEw, or TULSA, oxLAHoMA CAST OB SPLINT BEMOVING DEVICE Application led February 25, 1929. Serial No. 342,620.

This invention relates to surgical devices and has particular relation to a device -for severing and cutting away plaster of 'Paris or other casts, molds, and splints, in amanner which will not annoy or pain the patient. The resent means commonly used in the remov lof -such casts, molds, or splints, is to chisel, shear, or saw with a hand saw, the material which will be broken up into small and irregular pieces. This sawing, shearing and chiseling is necessarily attended with considerably pain to the patient. Aside from the actual physical pain, there is also a mental agony or anxiety through the fear of cutting or otherwise injuring the sensitive skin tissues beneath such casts or molds. This agony or anxiety is of course extremely detrimental to the patient, and in man cases, it produces serious after elects that requently delay arapid return of the patient to normal. Some of these casts or molds, etc. remain on the aiicted member for varying periods, ranging from a few days to months, and in some severe cases, years. The longer these casts or molds remain, the more sensitive becomes the underlying skin, so that the present methods of removal are exceedingly painful. Even when removal is eiected by the use of the best instruments now available, and b skilled operators, the patient frequently su Time required for the removal of these casts, etc. is alsov an important factor and it now requires from one-half hour to several hours to remove extensive casts. This fact operates to the disadvantage oi the surgeon and his assistants and too much time is at present consumed for this important operation. f v

The thickness of the ordinary casts or molds varies between one-half inch to one v 1 inch (approximately). When such casts or molds have become hardened from months ,of

setting they become yvery dense and tough so that it is extremely diicult to cut vor break themaway' without severe pain and discomfort. `As the toughness increases, the danger of cuttin andinjuring the skin of the patient multlplies. The cloth bandage (a sort ofl binding# and protective mediuln used in practically all casts and molds) 'inf creases the diiculty of removal to no small degree.

Experiments have proven that a far more etfectlve, time saving and painless manner for the removal of these casts or molds may be readily attained through the use of the present invention. It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide a cutting element by means of which the casts or molds may be cut into sections, or if desired, the whole cast or mold may be cut into sections in such manner as to preserve them intact for future reference and comparison with conl ditions which might develop inthe patient B5 at some future period. This would glve the surgeon an accurate means for determining any abnormalities which might develop after the removal of a cast or mold.

Another object of the inventionvis the provision of a device which will eliminate all ,danger of cutting or injuring the skin of the patient as well as any danger to the operator, and in which bruisin and skin pinching will also be eliminat A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above character which is sim le i'n construction and operation and may. e readily kept in a sterile condition so as to avoid wound contamination.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a device as above stated by means of which the casts or molds, regardless of their size and extent, may be removed without rendering it necessary to move the patient.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above character in which the depth of the cut may be regulated so that the cut may be made in accord- 'ance with the thickness of the mold or cast.

With the above and otherobjects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated `in the accompanylng drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings :r-

Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the guard. a Figure 5 is a detail view showing a slight- 5, vly modified form of depth regulating member. Y

- Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of .Fiure 5. n

' eferring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote correionding parts, the reference character 1() in lcates a flexible shaft which may be operated by any suitable source of power and 'which is provided with a handle 1l. Mounted upon this handle is a guard 12 which includes a sleeve 13, the latter receiving the end of the handle 11`and being removably secured thereon by means of a set screw 14. This guard is substantially sem-circular as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and includes a substantially semi-circular disk having an outwardly ldisposed circumferential flan e 15 extending around its edge, while exten g from the-outer edge of the flange 15 is a relatively narrow flange 16. This last mentioned flange is spaced from and parallel with the disk so that a channel-shaped guard is provided within which is adapted to operate a cutting element 17. This cutting element is secured to the end of the shaft 10 and may bein the form of a saw as shown or it ma consist of a circular knife.

- xtending from the guard 12 is an offset 18 having a socket 19 therein and removably positioned within this socket is an arm 20. The arm 20 carries at its outer end a rightangularly disposed plate 21 and this plate forms a combined runner and depth penetrating or regulating member. The under face of the plate 21 is curved upwardly at its opposite ends as shownat 22 so that it may more readily adapt itself to movement beneath the cast or mold. The arm 20 is adjustably held within the socket v19 by means of a set screw 23.

By adjusting the' position of the arm 20 with respect to the edge of the saw or cutting element, the de th of the cut may be accurately regulate and the degree of penetrationof Ythe saw into the mold or cast accuratelycontrolled. In addition, the plate 21 provides a convenient runner which will not m'ure the delicate skin of the patient. f desired, the runner or plate 21 may be provided with spaced rollers 24 as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings so as tofacilitate movement of the late.

The plate 21 may if esired be made of Monel metal, tool steel, or other suitable metal plain or plated, so that it may be easily and thoroughly sterilized.

removal of casts, molds, splints, etc.` regardless of their size, extent or thickness, or of the length of time they have been allowed to remain in position. It will be further ap arent that the device is of a character w ich may be used by persons havin no particular surgical skill or ability, as we as affording more satisfactory results in the hands of skilled persons. It will be thus apparent that an ordinary hospital attendant ororderly may accomplish quickly and painlessly mold without the aid of the surgeon. It will be further apparent that the invention rovides a devicewhich maybe easily han ed and controlled and which is free from all side play and jer movements, the device possessing marke flexibility of control so that any angle of cast or mold may be easily removed.

The device is compact and self contained and will cut its way through the hardest kind of plastic com osition in a minimum of time and with the east possible discomfort to the patient.

The arm 20 may be provided with a plurality of spaced sockets or recesses 20a to receive the end of the screw 23 so as to provide a positive connection between this arml and the guard.

The invention issusceptible of various chan es in its form, proportions and lminor detai s of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention what is claimed 1s:

In a device for removing surgical casts, a rotatable cutting element, a guard for said element, an'arm extending from the guard, a

plate carried by and extending at rightl angles to the arm adjacent the edge of the cutting element and having its engaging surface rounded at its ends, and rollers journalled in the plate and having portions of their peripherles projecting beyond the engaging surface of the plate, said rollers being located one near each edge of the plate.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures.

BRUCE E. CLARKE. ARTHUR A. SCHLEW.

It will be apparent from the .foregoing description and accompanying drawings that the invention provides an exceedingly simple '65 device which will facilitate cutting away and the complete removal of an extensive cast or vvnu 

